In the news

Forget Black Friday, this LTE-enabled Asus Chromebook is available for $200 right now

Before it sets out to break laptop affordability records with rumored $150 Chromebooks, Asus is granting you the ability to get LTE connectivity on the cheap. With little to no fanfare, the PC manufacturer has started selling a version of its C300 Chromebook that’s LTE-enabled. With this notebook in tow, you’ll be saved from having to always hunt for Wi-Fi hotspots.

The refreshed 13.3-inch Chromebook is identical to the old Wi-Fi-only model from both aesthetic, and hardware standpoints. The sole new feature is an Altair FourGee-3100/6202 LTE chipset, which is certified to run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

Verizon LTE connectivity was available with HP’s first LTE-enabled Chromebook too. However, the Asus C300 is dirt cheap by comparison, as Best Buy only charges a measly $200 for the rehashed notebook. The LTE-enabled HP Chromebook 11 went for $379 when it was first launched.

However, you’ll have to commit to a two-year Verizon contract. Otherwise, you’ll need to cough up $300 upfront. That’s still not a bad deal, given that the Wi-Fi-only Asus Chromebook costs $250 at Best Buy, and around $225 on Amazon. A $50, even a $75 premium doesn’t feel too steep for the connectivity edge that you’d get with LTE.